Derby County manager Wayne Rooney on the pitch ahead of the Sky Bet Championship match against Swansea City earlier in December last year.
Duane Holmes completed a move back to former club Huddersfield Town earlier last week after having an undisclosed fee accepted by The Rams. The 26-year-old midfielder failed to make an impact under Wayne Rooney resulting in both parties failing to agree new terms as his current contract came to an end.
Derby County manager has defended his decision to let him go saying: “there was no breakdown in relationship between myself and Holmes”, and his judgement was made entirely on the fact that he did not work hard enough in training.
After failing to make the matchday squad for the last four league games Holmes was sold to fellow Championship side Huddersfield Town earlier last week. The Americans last appearance for The Rams came as a second half substitute in the 2-0 win over Swansea City way back in mid-December making his choice to return to his former club an easy one.
But while Rooney said that the relationship between himself and the player had not broken down, he explained his decision to cash in on the midfielder during the January window.
“No, I don’t think the relationship had broken down. I played with Duane, and it’s different when you become the manager, you have to make decisions, you have to be ruthless with your decisions,” he said in his pre-match press conference before the 1-0 win against Bristol City at the weekend.
“I like Duane as a person, he is a good bubbly character, and he didn’t fit into my plans. I want the players working every day on the training pitch, that is important. If you do not do that, and I spoke to every player and explained if you don’t put the work in, I don’t want you at this football club.
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